Machine for distributing torpedoes on railways from platforms.



PATEN'I'ED MAY 26, 1908.

I. A. HALL MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING TORPEDOES ON RAILWAYS FROM PLATFORMS.

' APPLICATION FILED APE. 10.1907.

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M I I j v WWW Quota? No. 888,706. PATENTED MAY 26, 1908. J. A. HALL.

MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING TORPEDOES ON RAILWAYS PROM PLATFORMS.

APPLICATION FILED APBJO, 1907.

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UNTED srarns rarnur ornion.

JOHN A. HALL, OF OOLTEWAH, TENNESSEE.

MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING TORPEDOES ON RAILWAYS FROM PLATFORMS.

Application filed April 10, 1907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Join: A. HALL, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Oolte wah, in the county of James and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Distributing Torpedoes on Railways from Platforms, of which the following is a specification.

In railroading, as is well known, it sometimes becomes necessary to place torpedoes on the rails, so that the crew of an on-coming train may be warned that there is danger ahead. It has heretofore been necessary to sto the train after which the torpedo is to be aid so that a brakeman or other member of the crew may deposit the torpedo by hand on the track rail.

My invention has for its object an apparatus or device whereby one or more torpedoes may be laid on the rails while the train is traveling, thereby avoiding the necessity of stopping the train, and the time which would be lost in such operation, and the invention consists in certain constructions and arrangements of the parts which I shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of my improve'd torpedo laying device; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device; Fig. 3 is a sideelevation thereof, and, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The framework of my improved torpedo laying device comprises spaced longitudinal bars 1 connected together at suitable intervals by cross bars 2, on the lower one of which a roller 3 is journaled, the roller being adapted to travel along the rail when the device is in operation, so as to support the same properly with the lower ends of the two longitudinal bars 1 at opposite sides of the rail.

A conveyer chain 41 is mounted to travel around a sprocket or similar wheel 5 journaled in the framework near the lower end Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Serial No. 367,467.

of the latter, and also around another and preferably larger wheel 6 ournaled in the framework above the wheel 5 and supported between two bracket arms 7. On the same shaft with the wheel 6 and movable therewith is a smaller wheel 8, which is operatively connected by a chain or belt 9 with the driving wheel 10 journaled in the upper end of the framework and operated by means of a crank handle 11 or similar device.

The conveyer chain 4 is formed with one or more lags 12 adapted to engage the torpedoes so as to force them off the lower ends of the bars on to the rail, the ordinary straps 13 of the torpedo engaging flanges 1 011 the side bars 1. A light spring 14 which is preferably forked at one end, is rigidly secured to the lower end of the framework and is adapted to so engage with the torpedo as it is laid on the rail as to prevent it from bouncing ofl. l5 designates a crook or similar hanger which is connected to the upper end of the framework from which the device may be suspended from the rear platform of the moving train.

In the practical operation, the framework is suspended in proper position and one or more torpedoes are engaged with the flanges of the longitudinal bars 1 with sufficient friction to prevent them from dropping downwardly. The crank 11 is then turned and the torpedoes caused to engage with the lags 12 of the traveling conveyer 4, the said torpedoes being thereby pushed downwardly and off the lower ends of the longitudinal bars 1 on to the track rail.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple, durable and efficient construction of torpedo laving device which may be operated from the rear platform of the moving train and thereby avoid the necessity of stopping the train for the operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a framework adapted to be supported from the rear platform of a train with its lower end in juxtaposition to a track rail, a traveling conveyer journaled in said framework and provided with a lag adapted to push a torpedo off the lower end thereof, means for actuating said conveyer, and a spring secured to the lower end of the frame work and projecting beyond the same.

2. A device of the character described,

consisting of a framework embodying spaced being provided with flanges designed for longitudinal bars, a roller j ournaled between said bars at the lower ends of the same and adapted to roll along a track rail, the bars being provided with flanges designed for frictional engagement by the arms of the torpedo, a conveyer chain journaled between T said bars and provided with a lag adapted to engage torpedo and push it off the lower edge of the bars on to the rail, and means for operating said conveyer.

A device of the character described, consisting of a framework embodying spaced longitudinal bars, a roller journaled between said bars at the lower ends of the same and adapted to roll along a track rail, the bars 5 frictional engagement by the arms of the torpedo, a conveyer chain journaled between i l l 1 l l l said bars and provided with a lag adapted to engage a torpedo and push it off the lower edge of the bars on to the rail, means for operating the conveyer, and a crook secured to the upper end of the bars and adaptei'l to suspend the device from the railing of the rail- 1 way car.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. HALL. \Vitnesses:

J. W. CRow, G. P. WnLLs. 

